paradise review 2/25/16

[resetjet]

First of all cruise was great. I have not cruised Carnival in 5 years or so, but have cruised with them many times in the past. I can see some cutbacks in things, but for what we paid, I was very satisfied.

Room had two services a day, was fine as usual. Dinner was good, though they have made some cutbacks here, but still fine. Service was great as always. SeaDay brunch was a nice touch and first time for us. There seemed to always be food until some time after midnight. I remember having to do pizza at that hour. Lunch buffets were good, Deli counter was good. Nothing too fancy, but good enough. Desserts as always sorta lacking. Lots of bad options. Same on all cruise ships if you ask me. Breakfast Buffet was OK, nothing grand. mexican fiesta a great party, good food.

Entertainment was good. We watched all shows and comedies. If you are an 80's rock fan, you have to see epic rock. It was great, best show I have ever seen on a boat. Pretty much that same group for the shows and 2 comedians for the comedy shows. If you go to the comedy show, get there early. Lots of ignorant seat savers and the lounge fills up. Piano bar was fun, more like a comedy show, but getting a drink there is challenging so bring one in with you to get you started.

Casino was good. Lots of promotions, worth being there for. You have to get like 100 points on your card on machines to be called though. I won one of them while playing at the poker table, which is a machine. I am a pretty decent player made a bit of money, but I think alot of guys lost. It takes 15% up to $10 so it does not take long before all your money gets raked up. If there are two at table, no rake, so good time to train your wife. Quarter pushers and money cranes a waste of money but entertaining. Slots are older and not on par with AC and vegas, but it you play slots on a cruise ship to win money, I think you are kidding yourself. Try the bank by the blackjack tables with the howling wolf. They are OK.

craps and roulette normal.

Drinks were ok. $6 for a 16 oz rebel IPA. Wish they had real craft beer, but understand coming soon. We too some RR's with us and had no issues as well as other creative ideas from amazon. You can buy a wine package on board and carry on one bottle per adult, but they don't really check it, just don't go crazy with it. They did take any alcohol purchased in cozumel until disembarkation, so that is only good for take home, NOT for the last night.

Rented a car for $85 for the day with insurance, which you have to buy. THere is alamo and target rental. Alamo a little more, better cars. If you wanna save some money walk across the street and there is a LOCAL rental of jeeps and scooters and such. We went to MR sanchos. Great, just buy a drink or two and use the lounges and pool, swim and shop. all good. Ride around the island loop and leave some time to stop and have a drink at the various bars. Driving in town is dangerous and parking scarce, so plan extra time to find suitable parking.

Parking in tampa, there are several close lots for $8 a day. Just google. advance res needed.

Disembarking, next time I will wait til last. Seems everyone does the bring your luggage off now and there is a big line to get off and then in customs. Few are getting off last. I will get up late, carry my bags off or not, but just wait til they call the people with bag tags even if I am carrying off.

Finally tipping. I am under the impression that carnival keeps some of what you tip on credit card so I bring cash to tip. The employees prefer this and I did not get the full story, but I think it is way better for them. The only pain is that no matter what you do when book, they will put it on your room and you have to go to guest services on last sea day to reverse it. I left the ancillary tip on the CC as there is no way to tip the buffet people.

So all in all a good cruise. We prefer carnival as it tends to be a more party younger crowd. Not that we are that way, but we like to have fun, pampering means nothing to us. I like to serve myself and carry my own tray. People dress like crap on cruises today, but I hate dragging all that stuff as well. There are all types of people on board. I can see how this crowd is not for everybody, but it was fine for us.

Overall great value. I hate it when people book a value cruise and complain they didn't get lobster

[Clarea]

Thanks for the review.

[activeac]

Thanks for the casino insight!

[crusinpsychRN]

Thanks for the review. More paragraphs would make it easier to read.

[Keith1010]

Nice review.

 

keith

[gfft]

We were on this cruise as well. We loved it!

[capricorn548]

Thank you for the review, it is much appreciated. I have a question. I am going on the Paradise for my first cruise and I did not realize that they add all tips onto your credit card attached to the room. What kind of tips do they add on and is there a way to prevent this so I can use cash instead?

[FloridaAdGuy]

Thank you for the review, it is much appreciated. I have a question. I am going on the Paradise for my first cruise and I did not realize that they add all tips onto your credit card attached to the room. What kind of tips do they add on and is there a way to prevent this so I can use cash instead?

 

 

Tips on all Carnival cruises are $12/person/day and show up on your account (which likely has a credit card covering it). If you'd like to adjust it up or down you need to go to Guest Services. Also, a 15% tip is automatically added to any bar purchases. This is above and beyond the $12/person/day tips.

[RanchoDeluxe]

Overall great value. I hate it when people book a value cruise and complain they didn't get lobster

 

 

Thanks for the input on the casino and other areas. We have a women's cruise (we all too old to call it a girls cruise) on Mothers day weekend and I appreciate current info.

 

I agree with your last statement. We have an 3-person, 4-day trip, with all-day food, with entertainment, one overpriced AI excursion, and tips prepaid, for under $1600. If I didn't drink I could leave all my credit cards at home. And I get table service a-la-carte, cabana boys, shows, a piano bar, comedians, and a fitness center. With such a deal I am not getting Cunard service.

 

BTW everyone - TIP EXTRA!

Edited May 1, 2016 by RanchoDeluxe

[CruiseHealing]

We loved sailing the Paradise when it was in Tampa

[Yvonne]

Enjoyed your review, we had a great time on that ship too.

 

Sorry you didn't like the seat savers in the comedy club. Worked well for us that my husband and son went a half hour early to get seats while my daughter-in-law and I enjoyed watching the show in the main theater then joined them after it was over.

 

We enjoy our Carnival cruises, they still give us a great vacation at a great price.